Customer Reviews

A wondeful introduction combining both new and old. - By: , 24 Nov 2001
Rough Guide have come up trumps with this wonderful sampler of bluegrass music. Characterised by the banjo, fiddle & mandolin, bluegrass' roots liein 1930s &in the combination of many European & native American folk styles such as Irish, jazz, blues, East European polka & gospel. The CD contains famous artists such as the amazing Alison Krauss & Union Station, represented here by their classic track "Every Time You Say Goodbye", & older pioneers such as the Country Gentlemen, featuring the banjo ace Bill Emerson. A commendable balance is struck between vocal & instrumental tracks, & between faster & slower tunes. Indeed, the variety of artists is testament to the multitude of styles that the genre enjoys. The scintillating pace of Emerson & Waldron's instrumental "Shiloh" sits comfortably with the bittersweet beauty of Hazel Dickens' voice on the ballad "Hills of Home", as does Red Allen's cheery "Chicken Reel" juxtapose neatly with the sad talein Lynn Morris' "Mama's Hand", a beautiful, if not tear-jerking, retrospect on a young woman leaving home.

If you enjoyed the soundtrack to the hit film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", then this CD is a must for you. Approached with an open mind, the listener will find little disagreeable here. The raw beauty of this truly 'unplugged' experience, with its high-class playing & singing will surely not fail to delight any fan of folk & roots music. Let the sound of the Appalachians carry you away to a simpler, happier time!